Heel-treating tool support



A. B. FOWLER HEEL TREATING TOOL SUPPORT Original Filed Aug. 5,

Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALFRED B. FOlVLER, OF BEVERLY, Ifi'ASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR- T0 UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HEEL-TREATING TGOL SUPPORT.

Application filed August 5, 1920, Serial No. 401,289. Renewed May 25, 1926.

The invention hereinafter described relates to machines for treating the heels of boots and shoes, and more particularly reference to an improved machine for treating the contour surfaces of heels.

The heels of boots and shoes are usually noncircular in horizontal cross-section, and the pitch or inclination of the contour surface between the edges of the tread and the rand crease, and extending about the heel from one breast corner to another, varies. .frt and adjacent to the breast ofthe heel, for instance, there may be little or no pitch, while along the sides the pitch may gradually increase and attain a maximum at the back of the heel. As a consequence, a tool that is to act upon or treat the contour surface of a heel must be capable of conforming to the pitch of the heel as the tool and heel are relatively moved to present different portions of a heel contour for treatment.

In my prior application Serial No. 265,- 245, tiled Dec. 4, 1918, there is fully disclosed a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes. wherein the tool is mounted for tilting movement about the rand crease or the.

edge of the rand crease guide as a centre to conform the tool to the variations in the pitch of the heel, as the tool and heel are relatively traversed. In this prior machine the pressure of the tool against the work is applied primarily through the rand guide since its edge constitutes the centre of swing of the tool, and while this construction has been very satisfactory, means are required to cause the top lift guide to maintain its hearing against the top lift plate or templet, as the heel and tool are relatively traversed.

The present invention provides an improved machine of the type disclosed in the prior appli at-ion, and an important feature thereof consists in mounting a tool, such as a heel finishing tool, for tilting or swinging movement about a centre above the rand guide and preferably outside the axis of the tool.

Since the pressure of the tool against the work. in the present invention, is primarily applied above the rand guide, the weight of the tool itselfand its associated parts tends to maintain the tool in proper operative relation with the contour of the heel, and to hold the rand guide in the rand crease as the tool and heel are relatively traversed.

In the practical application of the invention, the mounting of the tool is such, and its centre of tilt or swing is so located, that when the tool is withdrawn from the work it automatically returns to a substantially uprig it or non-tilted position, the effect being that when the tool and work are moved into operative relation adjacent to one breast corner of the heel, all liability of cutting the upper at the counter is obviated.

In some cases it may be desirable to assist the tilting movement of the tool as it swings to conform to the increasing pitch of the 1 heel, and a further important feature of the present invention consists in a tool counterialance which acts to facilitate the tilting movement of the tool in one direction.

Instances may arise where it is desirable to vary the trimming action of atrimming tool relative to the top lift. In other words, it may be desirable to trim closer-in or farther-out with respect to the contour of the top lift to suit variations in the shape of the heel, and a further important feature of the invention consists of means associated with the tool for varying the relation between the work and the centre about which the tool tilts or swings.

As the heel and tool are relatively traverscc and the inclination of the tool is varied by the pitch of the heel, it is desirable that the rand guide be caused to rise or fall a minimum amount. By locating the centre of swing or tilt of the tool above the rand guide outside the axis of the tool, the arc of swing of the edge ofthe rand guide is flattened with the result that the edge of the rand guide is not raised or lowered to any marked degree as the tool and and guide swing into conformation with the pitch of the heel.

Other features of the invention and novel combinations of parts will be hereinafter de scribed in connection with the accompanying drawings which show one good, practical form of the invention, and while a cutting or trimming tool is shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the character of the tool may be varied to suit the character of treatment inn to which the contour of the heel is to be subjected.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation, partly in section, showing a tool and its mounting embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the l1ne 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the prior application to which reference has herein been made, means were shown and described for moving the tool towards and from the work, and for varying the pressure of the tool against the work as the tool and work were relatively traversed. In the prior application, owing to the mounting of the tool for tilting or swinging movement around the edge of the rand crease guide as a centre, the pressure of the tool against the work was gradually increased from one breast corner of the heel to the back median line of the heel, and then gradually decreased to the opposite breast corner. In the present invention, owing to the swing of the tool about a centre above the guide and outside the axis of the tool, the application of pressure is preferably reveised, that is, the pressure of the tool against the work will be gradually decreased from one breast corner of a heel to the back median line of the heel and then gradually increased again to the original amount as the tool approaches the other breast corner of the heel. It has not been deemed necessary herein to illustrate the details of mechanism for effecting this reverse application of pressure between the tool and the heel in the present invention, as compared with that in the prior application, because it involves merely the re-setting or re arrangement of the cam actuated devices, which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

hen the tool and mounting of the present invention is to be used in connection with a machine such as that shown and described in the prior application, to which reference may be had, the machine frame.

may have rising therefrom the standard 1 in the top portion of which at 2 is formed a guide-way for a slide 3. The slide 3 may be supported in the guide-way for sliding movement therein in any suitable manner but anti-friction rolls *1; are preferably provided substantially as described in the prior application. The slide 3 carries a support 5 which may be conveniently formed as a yoke and which affords a convenient means for supporting the tool, as will more fully appear.

To effect movement of the tool support and tool towards and from operative position, the slide 3 has preferably connected thereto at 6 an arm 7 the lower end portion of which is bifurcated, as at 8, to embrace a flattened portion of a shaft 01' rocking stud 9 mounted in the upright or tool support column 1. Secured to the shaft 9 is an arm 10, to the end of which is suspended a weight 11., the construction being such that the weight normally tends to move the tool support and tool towards working position. Mounted upon the shaft or stud 9 is an arm 12 which carries a swivel block 13 through which passes the rod 14 having a collar or shoulder 15 secured to the rod above the swivel block, the construction being such that while the rod may move upwardly in dependently of the lever 12, any downward movement thereof, after the collar has engaged the block, will cause movement of the lever 12 and its axis 9. Projecting from the weighted arm 10 is a finger or toe 16 which is provided with an adjusting screw 17 such that upon downward movement of the rod 14 the slide and, perforce, the tool carrier and tool, will be moved backwards away from the work. The parts thus far described may be substantially as in the prior application to which reference has been made.

The tool support 5 may be variously contrived, but in the present instance is shown as formed of two members 18 and 19, Fig. 3, which are separated for the accommodation of the tool carrying yoke 20. The two members 18 and 19 of the tool support may be formed either separately, and assembled in the spaced relation indicated in Fig. 3, or they may be cast integral with a space between, the essential in this respect being, in the present instance, that they form a guide-way for the tool carrying yoke 20.v

The tool carrying yoke 20 has an upper bearing 21 and a lower bearing 22 through which passes the tool shaft 23, the lower end of which is connected by a universal joint 24 with a tool operating shaft 25, substantially as in the application hereinbefin'c referred to.

Loosely splined upon the tool shaft .23 is the hub 26 which carries the tool. This construction, like that disclosed in my prior application, causes the tool to be driven by the shaft 23 while permitting free axial movement with respect to said shaft. The tool in the present instance of the in vcnlion, consists of a trimmer or cutter, the blades 27 of which are retained between the upper and lower flange members 28 and 2E), respec tively, substantially as in the prior application. While the tool is herein shown as a trimmer or cutter, it is to be understood that it may be of a character to treat the contour surface of a heel either by trin'nning, scouring, or finishing, etc. Below the lower flange 29 of the tool is the rand guide 30, the edge 31 of which is adapted to enter the rand crease 82. The rand guide is preferill) Ill!

ably supported by anti-friction rolls 33 for rotative movement independent of the tool, as it travels about the heel in the rand crease. Below the hub 26 of the tool is a spring 34 which supports the tool and rand crease guide for floating movement longitudinally of the tool shaft, substantially as more fully described in the prior application.

The connection between the tool and the tool support 5 is such that when the tool is tilted relative to the support as it conforms to the varying pitch of the heel, it may swing or tilt about a centre above the rand crease guide and preferably outside the axis of the tool shaft. In the present instance, the tool carrying yoke has a slot 35 which is curved about a centre 36. Extending transversely between the portions 18 and 19 of the tool support 5 is a pin or roller 37 which engages the curved slot 35. Near its central portion the tool carrying yoke 20 is provided with a second slot 38 which is similarly curved on the arc of a circle about 36 as a centre and a pin Or roller 39 extending between the side members 18, 19, of the tool support passes through the slot 38.

At its lower portion the tool support 5 is provided with a slot 40 which is similarly curved on the arc of a circle about 36 as a centre, and a pin or roller 11 secured to the tool carrying yoke 20 travels in the slot 40, the construction being such that under the weight of the tool and its associated parts, the roller 41 will normally rest against the lower end of the slot 10 and maintain the tool in substantially vertical position. Thus, when the tool and work are brought into operative relation, the tool is untilted or in substantially vertical position, the result be ing that danger of injury to the shoe upper by the rotating tool is avoided.

The point 36 which forms the centre of the arcs on which the slots 35, 38 and 40 are described, is located above the rand crease guide 30 and is outside of the axis of the tool shaft 23, the construction being such that when the tool is tilted toconform to the varied pitch of the heel as it t avels from one breast corner about the heel to the other breast corner, the force of gravity will cause the tool to tilt about an axis passing through the point 36 and the weight of the tool and its associated parts will tend tohold the rand crease guide 30, with its edge 31, in the rand crease, and during the tipping action of the tool the rand crease guide will have little movement longitudinally of the tool shaft, that is, itwill not be raised or lowered any material amount, because the flattened are of swing takes place about the point 36 as a centre. The flattened are of swing of the edge of the rand crease guide, when the tool is tilted, is graphically indicated by the line (4-6 and by the lines 0, (Z and e radiating from a centre 36 and representing substantially a swing or tilt of the tool 15 to either side of the vertical line (Z.

In order that the tool carrying yoke 20 may move readily in the tool support 5 a series of anti-friction rolls d2, are interposed between the tool support 5 and the sides of the tool carrying yoke, substantially as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

It may be desirable in some cases to facilitate the tilting action of the tool under the pressure between the tool and the work as the tool moves about the contour of the heel from one breast corner to the other, and the present invention contemplates a counterbalance to facilitate the movement of the tool in one direction. The counter-balance may be variously contrived, but in the present instance of the invention consists of a segment 18, Fig. 1, which is pivotally supported at it upon a bracket 45 carried by the tool support 5. A spring 46 may be coiled about the axis of the segment 43 and have one end connected to the bracket, as at 47, and the other to a pin or projection 48, ex tended from the segment The segment 41-3 is connected to the tool carrying yoke 20 by means of a band or flexiblemember 49, one end of which is connected to the segment 4.3 at 50 and the other end of which is connected to the tool carrying yoke at 51, the construction being such that the spring 46 normally tends-to turn the segment 43 clockwise in the illustrated form of the invention and as indicated by the arrow, to thereby assist in the tilting movement of the tool.

The shoe S, the heel of which is to be treated, is mounted upon a jack spindle 52, as described in the prior application, and a top lift plate 53, which may be substantially as described in the application referred to, holds or clamps the heel between the jack spindle and the top lift plate.

It is desirable at times to vary the trimming action of the tool with respect to the edge of the top lift, or, in other words, to trim the heel closer in or farther out to suit variations in the heel, and to this end the present invention provides means for varying the relation between the centre of swing 36, and the top lift plate. One good form of means to this end consists of a top lift guide 54 having a circular flange 55 to bear against the top lift of the heel or against the top lift plate 53 and mounted for free rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the tool. In the present instance, the top lift guide 5% has an rip-standing flange 56 which is journaled on an eccentric supporting sleeve 57 which may be manually adjusted at will to cause the top lift guide to present its bearing edge 55 variable distances from the axis of the tool shaft and, consequently, to vary the position of the lift;

centre of swing 36 relative to the work. lVhen the eccentric 57 has been moved to adesired position, it may be held in such position by a lock which, as shown, comprises a finger 5S pivotally mounted at 59 on an arm 60 projecting from the tool carrying yoke 20. The lock 58 may be held in its locked position by means of a spring 61 which is appropriately formed to engage locking recesses 62 in the lock 58. When adjustment of the eccentric is desired, the workman may push back the lock 58, adjust the eccentric 57 to the desired position, and then re-engage the lock with any one of a series of notches 63 formed in the out-standing flange of the eccentric 57. If desired, anti-friction rolls 64 may be interposed between the relatively stationary eccentric and the rapidly rotating bushing 65 carried by the hub 26 of the tool. The bushing 65 secures the top lift plate 53 and its eccentric support to the tool and to the rand crease guide so that they may move freely axially of the shaft 23 as the tool adjusts itself to the work, and their relative positions may be maintained.

The centre of swing 36, in the illustrated form of the invention, is indicated as being in a horizontal plane passing through the top lift guide, in which case the pressure of the tool towards the work is directly through the top lift guide and primarily against the top lift plate or templet, and the weight of the tool and its connected parts, acting about the centre 36, is advantageously effective in the tendency to hold the rand crease guide in the rand crease as the tool conforms to the pitch of the heel. The position of the centre about which the tool tilts may be varied by appropriate variation in the connections between the tool carrying yoke and its support.

Claims:

1. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of atool for treating the contour surface of a heel, means for relatively moving the tool and a heel to bring the tool into engagement with the heel, a support for the tool allowing it to tilt to operate on differently-sloping parts of the heel, and means to cause such tilting to take place about such an axis that the force of gravity yieldingly urges the tilted tool into engagement with the heel.

9. A machine having a heel-treating tool and a tilting mounting therefor permitting the tool to tilt, the axis of tilting of said mounting being so located with reference to the center of gravity of the tool and the associated parts of the mounting that the force of gravity yieldingly resists tilting of the tool.

3. A machine having a vertical shaft. a heel-treating tool mounted thereon, and a tilting mounting for the shaft constructed and arranged to permit the shaft to tilt and means to limit the tilting to movement about an axis above the center of gravity of the tool at such a height that the force of gravity yieldingly resists tilting of the shaft.

4. A machine having a rotary heel-treating tool, and a tilting mounting for the tool leaving the tool unobstructed on one side to engage a heel and constructed and arranged to permit tilting of the tool, the axis of pivotal movement of said mounting being so disposed that it does not intersect the axis of the tool and is on the unobstructed side of the tool and above the center of gravity of the tool.

5. A machine having a rotary heel-treating tool, a rand crease guide, and means for rotatahly and tiltably supporting the tool leaving the tool unobstructed on one side to engage a heel and constructed and arranged to permit tilting of the tool about a axis which does not intersect the axis of the tool and which is on the unobstructed side of the tool and above the rand-crease guide.

6. A machine having a heel-treating tool, a rotary shaft carrying the tool, and a mounting for the shaft and tool leaving the tool unobstructed on one side to engage a heel, said mounting having guiding means and limiting means constructed and arranged to permit tilting of the shaft and tool and to limit such tilting to movement about an axis outside of the shaft and on the unobstructed side of the tool above the center of gravity of the tool and above the parts of the mounting and shaft tilting therewith.

7 A machine having a tiltable heel treating tool, means to limit tilting of the tool in one direction to fix an initial position ready to begin operation on a heel, and a mounting for the tool permitting it to tilt to treat different parts of a heel and fixing the axis of tilting at such a position that the force of gravity acts on the tool and associated parts of the mounting yieldingly to resist tilting of the tool from its initial position.

8.1K machine having a tiltable rotary heel treating tool, means to limit tilting of the tool in one direction to an initial position with the axis substantially vertical, and a mounting for the tool permitting it to move to tilt its axis from the vertical to treat different parts of a heel and fixing the axis of tilting at such a position that the force of gravity acts on the tool and associated parts of the mounting yicldingly to resist tilting of the axis of the tool from the vertical.

9. A machine having a heel-treating tool, a rand-crease guide associated therewith, and a mounting for the tool and guide, said mounting having guiding means constructed and arranged to permit tilting to allow the tool to operate on diflerent parts of a heel and to limit such tilting to movement about such an axis that the crease-engaging part of the guide moves in an arc ab whose chord is substantially perpendicular to the side of a heel being treated by the tool.

10. A machine having a heel-treating tool, a mounting therefor fixing an initial posi tion of the tool and permitting it to tilt from said initial position, and in which the mounting is constructed and arranged to fix the axis of tilting at such a position with reference to the center of gravity of the tool and the associated parts of the mounting that the force of gravity yieldingly resists tilting of the tool, and a counter-balancing device offsetting part of the resistance offered by the force of gravity.

11. A machine having a heel-treating tool, a rand-crease guide and a top-lift guide associated therewith respectively below and above the tool, and a mounting for the tool and guides constructed and arranged to permit tilting to treat different parts of a heel and to limit such tilting to movement about an axis 36 substantially in the plane of the toplift guide.

12. A machine having a heel-treating tool, a rand-crease guide and a top-lift guide associated therewith respectively below and above the tool, and a movable mounting for the tool and guides constructed and arranged to permit tilting to allow the tool to operate on different parts of a heel and constructed and arranged to limit such tilting to movement about an axis 36 immediately adjacent the work-engaging edge of the top-lift guide.

13. A machine having a work support and a rotary heel-treating tool constructed and arranged to allow relative movement of ap proach and separation, a shaft carrying and driving the tool, a guide for the tool carried by the shaft, and means held against rotation with respect to said shaft for adjusting the work-engaging part of the guide adially of the tool to control the relative movement of the work support and the tool.

14. A machine having a work support, a rotary heel-treating tool, a shaft carrying and driving the tool, means for supporting the shaft to allow it to move bodily toward and away from the work support, a guide, an eccentric supporting sleeve therefor car ried on the shaft, and means for locking the eccentric supporting sleeve in any one of a plurality of angular positions to prevent the sleeve from rotating with the shaft and to hold the work-engaging part of the guide in corresponding radial relation to the tool so as to determine the extent to which the tool may move toward the work carried on the work support.

15. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of a tool and rand crease engaging guide, a yoke carand rand crease engaging guide, a yoke carrying the tool and guide, means for confining tilting movement of the yoke to move ment about a centre outside the axis of the tool and above the guide as the tool conforms to the pitch of the heel, and means for counterbalancing the yoke.

17. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of a tool and rand crease engaging guide, a yoke car rying the tool and guide, means for confining tilting movement of the yoke to movement about a centre outside the axis of the tool and above the guide as the tool con forms to the pitch of the heel, and means for varying at will the position of the centre of tilt relative to the work.

18. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of a tool for treating the contour surface of a heel, a sliding support, a tilting mounting for the tool carried by said support, a rand crease guide and another guide associated with the said tool, and means for movably supporting said tool upon said sliding support constructed and arranged to allow tilting movement of the tool about an axis outside of the axis of the tool whereby the action of gravity is effective to maintain one of said guides in contact with the work.

19. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of a substantially vertical shaft provided with a tool for treating the contour surface of a heel, a rand crease engaging guide associated with said tool, a sliding yoke carrying the tool and guide, means urging said yoke toward the work, tiltable means upon the yoke for supporting said shaft constructed and arranged to constrain tilting movements of the shaft with respect to the yoke to movements about a center above the rand crease guide, and an adjustable toplift guide associated with said tool adapted to be held in engagement with the work by the sliding action of the yoke.

20. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of a tool for treating the contour surface of a heel, an upright shaft for said tool, a top lift guide and a rand crease guide associated with said tool, means for movably supporting said guides and said tool constructed and arranged to allow them to move lengthill) wise of the shaft, and means for adjusting the extent to which the top lift guide projects beyond the center of the shaft.

21. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, the combination of a tool for treatingthe contour surface of a heel, a and crease guide associated with said tool, a shaftcarrying said guide and tool constrncted and arranged to cause rotary move- ALFRED B. FOWLER. 

